348 THE FORCING GARDEN. [FEB. 



ness of a foot or fifteen inches at top. If dung alone, 

 or a mixture of dung and leaves, be used, it should 

 be carefully fermented, and should be in a state past 

 heating violently, before it is put into the pit. In 

 this case, observe to finish the bed with the smallest 

 and driest part of the materials. 



In using any of these materials, the roots should 

 be bedded in light dry earth, as directed for those 

 on a hot-bed in January ; placing them closely to- 

 gether, and covering with fine mould, in like man- 

 ner. 



If by the heat of the bark or dung, and the use 

 of mats or canvas covers at night, the thermome- 

 ter stand as high as 50, fire -heat will be unneces- 

 sary ; but otherwise, recourse must be had to the 

 flues. A very moderate degree of fire-heat, how r - 

 ever, will be sufficient; and a small fire made in the 

 evening will generally answer the purpose. Some- 

 times, in dull hazy weather, a fire may be necessary 

 in the morning, in order to enable you to admit air 

 more freely, and to dry off* damp. 



The roots must have moderate supplies of water ; 

 and as the buds begin to appear, as large portions 

 of air must be daily admitted as the state of the 

 weather will permit. 



In forcing asparagus in this manner, if the pit be 

 twenty-five or thirty feet long, it will be enough, 

 for the supply of an ordinary family, to fill one- 

 half at a time. If the second half be planted when 

 the grass in the first half is fit for use, and so on. a 

 constant succession may be kept up in the same pit 

 for any length of time required. In order, how- 



